The Danger of Re-Freezing Food

Why can't you refreeze food that has been defrosted? -Jill, Baton Rouge, LA

Freezing food doesn't kill bacteria—it just inactivates them. So once thawing occurs, the bacteria will become active again and start multiplying, says Alice Henneman, R.D., an extension educator at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. The more times you defrost and refreeze food, the more bacteria is formed. If you must do this, keep the bugs at bay by thawing the food in the refrigerator (not out on the counter, which causes faster bacterial growth) and refreezing it within a few hours of defrosting.

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